Partnership with AIM Opens New Doors for Youth

The Newark Board of Education will soon offer local students a leg-up in their early careers with a chance to become a certified AMT. 

The strategic partnership includes the nearby Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM), of Teterboro, New Jersey. AIM will offer their guidance and resources to Newark students through shared coursework, allowing young students to take classes fo aviation maintenance technicians much like AIM’s regular student body. NBOE students will be allowed to start coursework in the high-demand field involving aircraft systems at the perfect time, setting themselves up for a perennially popular lifelong career. 

"The district continues to identify sectors with critical labor shortages and partners with industry professionals to provide programs and opportunities today, preparing our students for careers tomorrow," said Newark superintendent Roger León. The dearth of qualified aviation maintenance personnel is no secret, particularly following the interruptions to the training pipeline over the past 3 years. Smart school districts would do well to look to the hybrid tech school model, bringing together local community colleges and certification programs to offer high-performing high schoolers a shot at building a career while pursuing their regular diploma. 

"Plagued by delays and cancellations for varying reasons, this industry needs an injection of new high-skilled professionals and AIM in partnership with the Newark Board of Education is prepared to do just that," shared De'Kylen Jordan, campus executive director of Aviation Institute of Maintenance. 

"With the recent expansion at Newark International Airport and its proximity to our schools, we know the opportunities are real," said board president Dawn Haynes. 

FMI: www.nps.k12.nj.us